Death From Opioid Overdose After Deep Brain Stimulation: A Case Report

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a widely used procedure in which stereotactically implanted stimulatory electrodes are used to modulate the activity of specific neural circuits (1). Double-blind randomized controlled trials have indicated the efficacy of ventral capsule/ventral striatum (VC/VS) DBS in treating refractory depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (2,3). DBS has also shown promise in the treatment of refractory opioid addictive disorders (4–7). However, extending the application of DBS to addictive disorders involves disease-specific challenges, including the increased co-occurrence of antisocial personality disorders (ASPDs) and low socioeconomic status, which are common in this population (8).